Tempest
....What?
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What exactly is your argument? Do you think harsher prison sentences reduce crime?
The problem with your idea that criminals choose to commit crime is that it assumes the criminal thinks about their actions before they commit them. If they think about their actions, they think about the consequences. If that is the case and a crime is punishable by incarceration, then a logical person would not commit a crime. You're talking about the Rational Choice Theory that suggests that people weigh the pros and cons of their choices. The theory falls short when dealing with criminality because its vision is too narrow. There are many more factors at play when a crime is committed than just the pros and cons of the choice. Rational Choice Theory makes one very large assumption: that a person committing a crime is thinking rationally. As rational as you or I. It's a very large brush to paint all criminals with.
Since you asked for data, here:
http://crime.about.com/od/prison/a/harsh_punishment.htm
http://criminology.utoronto.ca/wp-c.../DWG-GeneralDeterrenceHighlights14Feb2013.pdf
http://justspeak.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Does-imprisonment-deter-crime.pdf
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810025245.htm
http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/pnshnt-rcdvsm/index-eng.aspx
http://www.sagepub.com/tibbetts/study/articles/SectionII/De Haan_Vos.pdf
Keep in mind that I'm talking about street crime and not "suite crime" (white collar crime). That is a totally different beast.
I spent 4 years learning about criminality. You clearly don't like the idea of rehabilitation, but the current system in the US does not reduce prison populations. It increases it.
I'm not looking for data on harsh punishments vs. softer punishments. I'm looking for some supportive information that criminals involved in things like shoplifting, pick-pocketing, burglary, drug use, etc., are not able to understand the difference between right and wrong.
I understand that it's good to help some people out. There are people who, if they receive help, will never offend again. I get that.
But I do think that in order for that to work, prison sentences have to be longer.
And we need to choose some crimes that won't result in jail time, to reduce the populations...and we need to revisit which crimes deserve harsher penalties. There is no reason for a rapist to get out of a ten year sentence after only three years because of good behavior. Nor is there a reason to only sentence someone to three years in prison for raping two children.
Manslaughter and murder should require harsher penalties and mandatory counseling before being released.
But I don't believe that even 'street criminals' are incapable of knowing right from wrong.